However, there are other companies whose commercials become legendary in a different way. They’re well-known, yes, and there’s the saying that no publicity is bad publicity. But for every epically awful but somehow wildly popular phenomenon, there are millions that are simply ignored.

Luckily, you can learn from these epic failures and the delightful commercial parodies they inspired.

1) Show how your product provides a real service to real people.

Most infomercials share the same structure: a klutz in black-and-white land is haphazardly trying to do a simple task and fumbles around in a destructive whirlwind like an elephant on Vicodin. But with the use of the incredible product being marketed, the task is a snap! The WTF Blanket – a dubbed over Snuggie commercial – exaggerates the silliness of it all.

As the proud owner of 3 Snuggies (1 name brand Snuggie, one Kmart knock-off, and 1 Brookstone Nap Comfy Ultra-Plush Blanket with Sleeves), I am clearly just the kind of moron this ad appeals to. I think I’m the exception rather than the rule on this one, though.

The parody here exaggerates two different things that a real customer might take away from the original: 1) the customer is an idiot who can’t do simple things and 2) the “problem” that needs to be “solved” is not really a problem at all.

Neither of these are a great way to start off with potential clients. Showing competent people up against a difficult obstacle and benefitting from your products and services is the ideal way to make your company relevant.

2) Use the word you mean, not the word that’s more exciting.

With precious seconds in a commercial or online video, the temptation to use flashy words or catchy phrases is constant. After all, you want those words to be remembered, right? The Iron Gym parody mocks the original by exaggerating the verbs describing the body’s reaction to exercise, including things such as “ransack your biceps” and “humiliate your chest.”

You’re probably laughing with me, but the original Iron Gym commercial includes gems like: “Start with shoulder-shredding, bicep-burning chin-ups and pull-ups.”

While using vivid imagery can be a successful way to describe a scene in longer prose, using flashy, shallow language that doesn’t add to the overall experience distracts from the substance of what you’re offering.

3) Hotties can get in the way.

On television shows, every doctor is gorgeous (and usually has a tortured past that bicurious experimentation alone cannot erase) and every police officer is smoking hot. And that’s okay, because everyone knows they’re only actors pretending.

While it is true that every promotional blog writer is a stone fox, doctors and other frequent TV spokespeople are not universally attractive. Having a pretty face may draw in initial interest but may also get your expert – real or not – dismissed as an actor or actress.

For example, where do you think Dr. Betty Bottoms got her degree?

The best part? This was a legitimate ad produced by an Indian advertising agency. I don’t know if it ever saw air (and frankly, I’m afraid to start Googling related keywords), but it certainly highlights the tendency of commercials to use attractive “experts.”

Although I do feel sorry for the poor hotties being discriminated against, it is an unfortunate truth that – whether based in jealousy or not – pretty people are often dismissed as less intelligent. If your brand has an attractive spokesperson who is also claiming to be (or really is) an expert, customers may second guess the person’s qualifications – and therefore YOUR brand’s research basis.

Do you break any of these rules in your advertisements? What are your favorite commercial parodies? What kind of commercials make you want to seek out a company’s products or services? Sound off in the comments below!

Until next time, keep expanding your brand!

Jana

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Jana Quinn

An old ‘G’ that’s been working for QLP since it was in Bret’s basement – Jana has been writing since she made up a story about a Jana-Tiger that liked rocky road ice cream and got straight A’s. She enjoys writing about marketing and pop culture, posting a ‘Die Hard’ article as often as she’s allowed. She is inspired by the articles at Cracked and frequently wears a Snuggie in the office. You can also connect with Jana on Google+.

I admit that since I don’t have cable or network my commercial watching time has dwindled to nearly nothing. There is one series of commercials on the radio that I will stop and listen to just for the laugh. The Bud Light “Real Men of Genius” ads crack me up every time. And I don’t even drink beer.

THAT’S AWESOME. I also have a Snuggie at the office. Two, actually! I use my green KMart knockoff as my “main” Snuggie with my name brand tan auxiliary Snuggie on hand in case anyone else gets cold. Too cool.

It is so true! Even with commercials on the radio! They always have some intense voice over and use a lot idiot-proof words, and I for one am completely offended. The rest of the world I can’t speak for, however. It’s just like the movie “Idiocracy.” As long as a commercial is promising little effort, huge results and instant gratification, people throw money down without thinking twice about it. I don’t know about you, but when I see commercials like Dr. Betty Bottoms and Victoria’s Secret commercials, my feminist side comes out and I am so irate! It is because of ads like these that I gave up television in the first place.

Commercials like the Snuggie commercial (which in an essence is just an oversized robe that you wear backwards and look not unlike a Jedi) are ridiculous. I feel like we further perpetuate and add to the dumbing down of our culture, and I feel like I am singled out in my outrage when I see these stupid commercials. They may be entertaining, but only for a moment and then the reality sinks in that commercials like this are serious and seriously trying to make money. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I see where you’re coming from Sam. I used to be more like that. But now I try to just look at it like hey, if that guy can make millions off a backwards robe, more power to him, somewhat genius really.

Kind of like the movie Role Models, and the coffee house scene, “I hate that stuff too, but I don’t let it ruin my day” kind of thing. I think people are always going to buy silly stuff like that. And I used to get mad at my husband every time he wanted to buy something that wasn’t 100% useful and “needed”, but now I just say (still within some reason, of course) hey, if it makes you happy, why not….buy the dang Snuggie, etc.

The commercials that have been bugging me late though, are the medication ones! I understand that the companies got into trouble and need to list off some side effects. But still, unless you need that medication, why do we need to hear every possible side effect?? A lot of the side effects are worse than the original trouble. (Like Jeff Foxworthy says, “I think I’ll just keep my itchy, watery eyes!”)

My husband wanted one for a while, but I refused to spend the money since we have tons of blankets already. But last Christmas, he got 2 as gifts, so we gave the Snuggie a try. We both actually liked it…but it still doesn’t get used as much as our regular blankets do. So I’m glad that I didn’t spend our money on it, but we are glad to have one around sometimes. Whenever a friend is over and sees that we have one, they insist on trying it out, and we always get a good laugh out of the wizard like sleeves.

But you’re right Jana–a Snuggie is a good blanket for the office. I bet it keeps your arms warm while typing at the desk! Well done! =)

I am also loving the Vitameatavegimin picture, I Love Lucy will always be an awesome show! I have watched and love it my entire life.

Good call on these tips, Jana. #2 resonates the most with me; Iron Gym and Bowflex commercials are infamous for using superfluous words that make my ears perk up (not in a good way). It detracts from the commercial itself. Somehow, the terms “shoulder shredding” and “bicep burning” don’t urge me to whip out my phone and start ordering. If anything, words like that urge me to avoid exercise even more than I already do…that sounds disgusting and painful!

P.S. I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of viewing the Betty Bottoms commercial before now, so thank you for that! If she gets to call herself a doctor, then I don’t see any reason why I can’t start calling myself an astrophysicist (which is what I would be if I didn’t fail so hard at math).

Also, great points about commercials. I secretly like infomercials, and the main reason I get hooked on them, or the product they are selling, is because they are showing the item as something that would actually make my everyday life easier (or at least they are making me think it would). So I would definitely agree with Tip #1. Show me the product is actually going to help me, and I might be sold!!

I’m honestly surprised that the Reebok commercial was developed and targeted for their Indian market. I would have thought that ANYTHING they would have produced would be MORE conservative than anything they would air here in the US.

In regards to “pretty people are often dismissed as less intelligent”; I have to agree, this is indeed the case, which makes finding a hotty (as Richard Vesly would call them) who is also super smart an extremely exciting find for us men – JK!

Great post, and I can only wish that someday I could be responsible for producing an advertisement that is so BAD that it would be worthy of a “WTF” voice over!

Shame on those who undercut Dr. Bottoms credibility as a licensed physician. I don’t see why she’s getting such a “bum” rap. She’s written three books on posterior health, which as far as I’m concerned makes her an accredited authority on the subject.

Butt Complex is a serious contemporary issue, and one that afflicts millions of unfortunate individuals—myself included. Had it not been for the outreach program founded by Dr. Bottoms, millions more would likely suffer. And if she says that a new pair of Reeboks will help me sculpt my buttocks more effectively, then who am I to question her research methods?

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